Educator Guide: Why Bat Viruses Are So Dangerous

A bat’s antiviral defenses let it safely carry viruses that can cause deadly outbreaks in other animals. One example is the Marburg virus, a close relative of Ebola that comes from Egyptian fruit bats (pictured), which causes severe bleeding and organ failure.
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About this guide
This guide will help students understand how viruses in other animals can infect people, sometimes leading to epidemics or pandemics. In a group activity, students will imagine they are health officials developing action plans to prevent or stop an epidemic.
This Guide Includes:
The path from outbreak to pandemic
Collaborating to stop an epidemic
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